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bears on land. The study from the 1960s showed no signs of caribou and considerably less
signs of snow geese.
The new research indicates that some polar bears in the western Hudson Bay area are
using foraging strategies while pushed ashore, such as prey-switching and eating a mixed
diet of plants and animals to survive in their rapidly changing environment. This behavior
likely derives from a shared genetic trait with brown bears from which polar bears
separated at least 600,000 years ago. Gormezano and Rockwell suggest that the polar
bears foraging behavior is a response to nutritional stress.
The current threats to polar bears in the western Hudson Bay area are clear as the ice
break season expands, limiting polar bears access to seals. Rockwell says, There is little
doubt that polar bears are very susceptible as global climate change continues to
drastically alter the landscape of the northern Polar Regions. But were finding that they
might be more resilient than is commonly thought. In fact, polar bears hunted caribou and
snow geese when seals were still available on ice. This shows more support for their
foraging behavior and prey switching abilities.
Fortunately, most of the polar bears become optimistic omnivores and adapt to other plants
and animals such as, caribou and snow geese. Still, we need to keep in mind that polar bears
are listed as Endangered Species under the United States Endangered Species Act. Rockwell
and Gormezano suggest to continue their research by studying the amount of polar bears
shifting their diet and the nutritional gain that comes with the terrestrial diet. Perhaps that
research would show the survival rates of polar bears once they forage on land.
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Support of Gormezanos and Rockwells research was primarily provided by The Hudson Bay
Project. Additional funding was provided by American Museum of Natural History
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant (#0655), Arctic Institute of North America Grants-InAid, Churchill Northern Studies Centre Northern Research Fund, City University of New
York and Manitoba Conservation Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (#27070).